Fabric control mechanism to prevent starting marks



Jan. 12, 1965 W. l.. TINKHAM 3,165,125

FABRIC CONTROL MECHANISM TO PREVENT STARTING MARKS Filed April l5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I `E ELT-:h k ffy-f M o I"'|| no Erg/L ,ry

A T TORNE Y Jan. 12, 1965 w. TINKHAM 3,165,125

FABRIC coNTRoL MECHANTSM To PREVENT STARTING MARKS Filed April l5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, WESLEY LTNm-AAM A TTORNE Y United States Patent O 3,165,125 FABRHC CNTRUL MECHANKSM T PREVENT STARTING MARKS Wesley L. Tinkharn, Upton, Mass., assigner to Draper Corporation, Hopedaie, Mass., a corporation of Maine Filed Apr. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 273,077 2 Claims. (Cl. 139-291) This invention pertains to looms for weaving and, more particularly, to an improved means of controlling the fabric formed by said looms.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a means for preventing starting marks in fabric upon starting up a loom after a filling break.

It is a further object of the invention to move the fabric and its fell line forwardly away from the reed when turning a loom over to remove a broken pick thereby eliminating contact between said reed and fell.

it is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanism which will infiuence the entire width of the fabric and fell line thereof to move the same forwardly of the reed and then releasing said mechanism to permit the fabric to move rearwardly in preparation for the next pick. f

It is a still further and more specific object of the invention to provide a mechanism for moving the fabric and the fell line thereof forwardly away from the reed and for returning the same to a position proper for the next pick without disturbing the take-up, let-back, or letoff settings of the loom.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following more detailed disclosure.

A starting mark as referred to hereinafter is a permanent and distinct mark in the fabric which appears when starting a loom after a filling break. Marks of this nature have been the source of serious complaints, for such fabric is not accepted as being first quality.

On a filling break aloom will stop automatically in a manner well known to those conversant inthe art by means of a stop motion adapted for that purpose. The loom is then turned over to that shed opening containing the broken filling thread, and during this turning over of the loom, the reed strikes the fell line of the fabric. The reeds striking of the fell during this turning over of the loom has a tendency to pack the preceding length of filling more tightly than those which form the fabric immediately adjacent thereto or which precede said length of filling. This additional beat-up or packing of the filling yarn also has a tendency to stretch slightly the warp threads at this point and together form a distinct line or, in other words, a starting mark when the loom is started up to resume weaving.

According to the instant invention, starting marks in fabric caused in a manner heretofore described can now be prevented by moving said fabric and the fell line thereof a short distance forwardly of the reed. This movement permits the loom to be turned over to the shed opening which contains the broken pick without the reed marking contact with fell line of the fabric. After the broken length of filling is removed, the fabric and fell are allowed to move rearwardly to that position proper for receiving the next pick and weaving is resumed.

The mechanism according to the invention inuences the fabric for its entire Vwidth and is capable of moving the same a distance sufficient to eliminate Contact with the reed when the loom -is turned over without altering the settings of either the let-off, let-back, or take-up mechanisms of the loom. n

The device is disposed intermediate the breast beam and temples and comprises first and second spaced parallel shaft members which extend horizontally and transversely of the fabric. The first shaft member is situated beneath and in contact with the fabric. This shaft is relatively ixed and serves as a center about which the device is pivoted for angular movement. Arm members directed in a generally upward direction are carried on each end of the first shaft. The second shaft member is disposed above the fabric and is fixed in the upwardly directed arms. An operating handle extends upwardly from one at least of the arms whereby the arms and second shaft member may be swung about the first shaft member. This swinging movement causes the second shaft to press the fabric downwardly over the first shaft which in turn moves the fabric and fell line thereof to a position forwardly of the extreme forward position of the reed. The device is provided with a latching or locking means so that it may be held in either of its extreme positions.

After turning the loom over to the shed opening containing the broken pick and then removing the same, the device is released and the fabric and fell move back to that position proper for the next pick and continued weaving.

The invention will be described hereinafter in greater detail by reference to the accompanying figures of drawing in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view showing the upper portion of a loom including the lay, reed, temples, and fabric as well as the mechanism according to the invention applied thereto;

IG. 2 is a view in side elevation of some of the parts shown in FIG. 1 showingthe means of depressing the fabric in its selected and non-selected positions;

FiG. 3 is a plan view of the invention showing the means utilized to maintain the mechanism in loom operating position; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 but showing how the mechanism is retained in fabric depressing position.

A sufficient portion of a loom is shown in the figures of drawing to illustrate application of the invention thereto.

in FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a lay 10 which supports a reed 11 through which warp threads 12y and 13 are caused to pass.

At the front of the loom there is provided a breast beam 14 which is utilized to support a latching device to lock the mechanism of the instant invention in its extreme positions and will be described more fully hereinafter. A pair of temples 15 and 16 is mounted on each side of the loom intermediate the lay 10 and the breast beam 14 and is adapted to support and guide the fabric 17 in aknown manner as it is formed and caused to move in the direction of the indicating arrow depicted in FIG. 2. The loom includes a take-up roll 1S and a pressure roll 19 which are also utiiized in a known manner to assist in taking up the fabric asit is formed.

The ends of the pressure roll 19 are supported by and journaled in pressure roil brackets 2t) and 21. The upper portions of these pressure roll brackets are adapted tov support the instant invention which includes a first shaft member 22. Shaft member ,Z2 is horizontally disposed beneath and in contact with the fabric17 and extending transversely thereof, the ends of said shaft are journaled in the upper portion of the pressure roil brackets forming a center about which the device can be pivoted. Adjacent each end of shaft member 22 and fixedly positionedl thereon there is provided upwardly directed arm members 23 and 24. These arm members extend above the height of the fabric and are providedwith aligned apertures which are adapted to receive the ends of a second shaft member 215. The second shaft member being dis- 3 posed above the fabric and extending traversely thereof is in parallel alignment with the rst shaft member 22.

An operating handle 26 extends in a generally upward direction from arm member 2d and provides a means whereby the arms 23 and 24' and the second shaf 215 may be swung or pivoted from the dot-and-dash line position to the solid line position and vice versa as shown in FIG. 2 ofthe drawing.

The dot-and-dash line position of arm 24 (FlG. 2) is the proper position of this member for normal loom operation with the fabric 17 being threaded between the first and second shaft members. The fell line of the fabric during normal loom operation is depicted by line A-A in FlG. `2, and when the operating handie 26 is pulled forwardly to the solid line position, the second shaft member25 is caused to bear against the fabric depressing the same for its entire width over the upper surface of the rst shaft member 22,

The operating handle is pulled to this forward position after a loom stop due to a filling break and the depressing of the fabric during this movement causes the feil to move forwardly away from the reed to that position depicted by line B-B in FlG. 2Q Movement of the fell from its normal operating position forwardly as described, permits the loom to be turned over without the reed 1l striking the fell` A releaseable latching means is provided to retain the device in each of its extreme positions and comprises a generally L-shaped lever 27 one end of which is pivotally attached to a mounting bracket 2S as at 29. Mounting bracket 28 is attached to the upper surface of breast beam 14 by means of a bolt 39. The shank portion of lever 27 is provided with an elongated slot 3i which is adapted to receive therein an outwardly directed adjustable pin member 32 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The free end of lever 27 is provided with an outwardly directed fixed pin member 33 (FIGS. 3 and 4) the exposed portion of which is adapted to rest in a rst formed pocket 34 situated on the inner side of arm 24 when said arm is in normal loom operating position. A second formed pocket 35 is provided on an arm 24 forwardly of and adjacent to pocket 34 and the exposed portion of the adjustable pin member 32 is adapted to rest in this pocket when arm 24 is in the solid line position illustrated in FIG. 2. Pin member 32 being adjustable longitudinallly in slot 3l provides an adjusting means whereby the fell line may be retained in a predetermined position when drawn forwardly away from the reed.

In operation, the mechanism according to the invention is in that position depicted by dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 2 and the fabric as formed passes unrestricted between the first shaft member 22 and the second shaft 25. On a filling break the loom is caused to stop in a known manner by a stop motion adapted for that purpose.

To prevent a starting mark from appearing in the fabric when starting up the loom, which is believed to be caused by the reed striking the fell when turning the loom over to that shed opening containing the broken pick, lever 27 is manually raised so that the fixed pin 33 clears the formed pocket 34 and the operating handle 26 is then pulled forwardly to the solid line position `shown in FIG. 2. YVifhen the handle is in this position, it is retained there by permitting the adjustable pin member 32 to drop into the second formed pocket 35.

l While moving the operating handle forwardly as described', the second shaft 25 is caused to move in an arc about the first shaft member 22, and making contact with the fabric it depresses the same for its entire width over the upper surface of said first shaft member. At this point the loom is then turned over to that shed opening containing the broken pick and is done so without the reed contacting the fell due to the fell line moving from its normal position at line A-A to line B-B when the fabric was depressed.

After removing the broken pick, lever 27 is again manually raised so that the adjustable pin 32 clears pocket 35 and the operating handle is pushed rearwardly to the dot-and-dash line position of FIG. 2. At this point the pin 33 is again permitted to enter pocket 34 to retain the mechanism in normal loom operating position. The moving of the operating handle rearwardly as described releases the depressing .tension imposed upon the fabric by the second shaft 24 allowing the fell to move rearwardly to a position proper for the next pick and the loom and fabric are then in condition to resume weaving,

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all vari ations and modiiications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope ofthe claims.

I claim:

l. In a loom for weaving having a lay and reed, a breast beam and temples adapted to support and guide the fabric formed by said loom, a start mark preventer comprising first and second spaced parallel shaft members extending horizontally the full width of said fabric and transversely of said loom intermediate said breast beam and temples, said first shaft member being adapted to be positioned beneath and in contact with said fabric and said second shaft member being adapted to be disposed above said fabric and movable in an arc relative to said first shaft member to depress said fabric moving the same so that the feil line thereof moves forwardly away from said reed, said second shaft being further movabie to its initial position to allow said fabric and fell to move rearwardly to a position proper for the next pick, and means for retaining said second shaft member in the fabric depressing position and in the loom operating initial position, said means including adjustable linkage for varying the extent of forward movement of said fell line.

2. In a loom for weaving having a lay and reed, a breast beam and temples adapted to support and guide the fabric formed by said loom, a start mark preventer corn` prising a relatively fixed shaft member, arms pivoted with said shaft member as a center, a second shaft member fixed in said arms, both said fixed shaft member and said second shaft members extending horizontally the full width of said fabric transversely 0f said loom intermediate said breast beam and said temples, an operating handle extending from one at least of the arms whereby the arms and second shaft member may be swung about the fixed shaft member from an extreme rearward operating position to an extreme forward depressing position to take up a fabric threaded between said shafts and pull its fell line forwardly of the loom, and means releasably to latch the device in each of its extreme positions, said means including adjustable linkage for varying the extent of forward movement of said fell line.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 569,586 Northrop Oct. 13, l896 804,964 Marcoux Nov. 2l, 1961 1,799,95 Tebo Apr. 7, 193i 2,260,760 Turner Oct. 2S, i941 FOREIGN PATENTS 553,982 Germany Jan. l5, 1931 

2. IN A LOOM FOR WEAVING HAVING A LAY AND REED, A BREAST BEAM AND TEMPLES ADAPTED TO SUPPORT AND GUIDE THE FABRIC FORMED BY SAID LOOM, A START MARK PREVENTER COMPRISING A RELATIVELY FIXED SHAFT MEMBER, ARMS PIVOTED WITH SAID SHAFT MEMBER AS A CENTER, A SECOND SHAFT MEMBER FIXED IN SAID ARMS, BOTH SAID FIXED SHAFT MEMBER AND SAID SECOND SHAFT MEMBERS EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY THE FULL WIDTH OF SAID FABRIC TRANSVERSELY OF SAID LOOM INTERMEDIATE SAID BREAST BEAM AND SAID TEMPLES, AN OPERATING HANDLE EXTENDING FROM ONE AT LEAST OF THE ARMS WHEREBY THE ARMS AND SECOND SHAFT MEMBER MAY BE SWUNG ABOUT THE FIXED SHAFT MEMBER FROM AN EXTREME REARWARD OPERATING POSITION TO AN EXTREME FORWARD DEPRESSING POSITION TO TAKE UP A FABRIC THREADED BETWEEN SAID SHAFTS AND PULL ITS FELL LINE FORWARDLY OF THE LOOM, AND MEANS RELEASABLY TO LATCH THE DEVICE IN EACH OF ITS EXTREME POSITIONS, SAID MEANS INCLUDING ADJUSTABLE LINKAGE FOR VARYING THE EXTENT OF FORWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID FELL LINE. 